Dick's Sporting Goods also says it's removing all guns from display at its store closest to Newtown, where the massacre took place.

Authorities say a gunman killed 26 people, mostly children, with a military-style rifle at Sandy Hook Elementary School on Friday after killing his mother. He then killed himself.

A statement posted on Dick's website expresses sympathy for the victims' families.

"During this time of national mourning we have removed all guns from sale and from display in our store nearest to Newtown and suspended the sale of modern sporting rifles in all of our stores chain wide," the statement said.

The decision by Dick's generated mixed reactions from customers at a store in Concord.

"What Dick's is doing is great. If everyone pitches in, I think we will get there," Tracy Francoeur said.

"I see where they are coming from. I don't know that it's going to solve the problem," Sherry Carbee said.

"I think we have rights, and because some people don't know the difference between right and wrong, we all shouldn't suffer. Rifles don't kill people. Guns don't kill people. People kill people," Robert Young said.

"Very much into people having the right to own a gun. You know, we do it for sport," Al Franklin said.

"If someone really wants to get a gun, they will manage somehow to get a hold of a gun," Madeleine Franklin said.

Dick's declined to answer Associated Press questions about how long the suspension would last or which weapons were being pulled.

Pittsburgh-based Dick's Sporting Goods Inc. has more than 500 stores in 44 states.